You are AFK

When my husband is on the road, we WoW together (play World of Warcraft) when we can manage it. While we beat on bad guys in the game, or run to a new area in which to beat on them, we can "whisper" comments to each other on the screen that only the two of us can see. (Sounds romantic, doesn't it?) This works very effectively as communication between the two of us, and the whole endeavor serves the purposes of (a) making us both feel like we're getting some "down time" in our respective days, (b) relaying information to each other about our days in a context where we're getting rid of any stress related to the events, and (c) relating to each other from afar in a playful way in which we achieve mutual (albeit trivial!) goals. As you can tell, it's all very well reasoned-out, marriage-enriching stuff. :)

Well, while playing the game, if I need to walk away from the computer to do something, and it takes long enough for me to get back, I might find my game character sitting idly on the ground, and a line reading "You are AFK"--Away From the Keyboard--in the chat box on my game screen. I think it would be cool if I could hack in somehow and make the image of me do what I'm doing "IRL" (In Real Life): throwing laundry in the washer, checking on a coughing kiddo, feeding the baby. . . uh, well, OK, I guess there are limits!

Anyway, bizarrely, it made me think about what has been in my life this week: some little stuff that I got to be there to see and hear and experience because I wasn't the life equivalent of AFK.

Actually, my mom had been up for a few days, and I felt a little sheepish that our life seemed so complicated while we were living it in front of her, if you know what I mean. We had an unusual amount of appointments and such, but it's usually a good kind of busy that we stay while Glenn is gone. I guess in retrospect that, in our own small way, we did have a big week, both during and after her visit.

For instance, my baby girl Genevieve learned to sit by herself. She had to concentrate, though: she puts a lot of energy into responding to people, so she would repeatedly knock herself over by smiling if we caught her eye. She also started on rice cereal this week, and was eating like a champ by her second time trying it.

Priscilla had a friend stay overnight. They slept in a tent in the basement and made shaped pancakes for everyone in the morning, using batter put into a washed-out syrup bottle. (The spider, puppy, and teddy bear pancakes were my favorites.) Priscilla got a reply to a letter she'd written to the people at Big Idea (who make Veggie Tales), and received her issue of Clubhouse, so she had a great mail week! She also made yummy spicy gingerbread cookies this afternoon.

The kids started rehearsals this week for the Christmas play. Thomas is one of the three kings, and I heard great reports about his first day. Priscilla had been really disappointed about not getting a particular role, but really likes the way the girl who got the role plays it, and I know she'll be hilarious as ever in her own part.

I have been having a great time reading Ginger Pye out loud at the lunch table. Thomas recommended the book, and it's been so fun! (My mom listened, too, while here.) I've also been surprised at how much both Thomas and Priscilla have enjoyed listening to G.A. Henty's The Cat of Bubastes in the car: Priscilla said it was one of her favorite books ever (see her below reading a less favored one upside-down). It prompted great thought and discussions on the origins of polytheism in Egypt and other countries, and on how the lives of people on the fringes of Bible characters' lives may have played into God's plan for those we know most about in those passages.

Thomas made my homeschool teaching week with some of his observations about the epic of Gilgamesh. He and Priscilla both also volunteered help at some key times with "the littles" with such good will. Oh, God is so good to me.

James-Boy got into some fairly large scrapes, but also had some extremely cute moments. For instance, he would repeatedly put a doll into Genevieve's bouncy seat (the kind that hangs in a doorway), then take the doll out to kiss and cuddle it. Wish I could have caught that on camera.

We got to take our dog Kiyoshi for a couple walks in some woods we hadn't tried before, and the paths had room for the stroller! James got out for part of the way the first time through, and walked the paths with great enthusiasm (though inevitably he managed to step in another dog's leavings).

And I went to a session of women's Bible study that was really good and challenging; among other things, it (and the text) encouraged me to take a look at both "wilderness times" and worship in ways I haven't in a while.

All added up, as crazy-making as it can be, this little stuff of home and family life makes me glad I can't be AFK regarding it . . . that often.